Basic Concepts of Statistics

Question 1

A science that involves the efficient use of numerical data relating to groups of individuals.

Answer 1

Statistics

Question 2

A science of collecting, organizing, presenting, analyzing, and interpreting numerical data.

Answer 2

Statistics

Question 3

To provide an overview of the information gathered.

Answer 3

Descriptive Statistics

Question 4

Describes information through numerical measurements, charts, graphs, and tables.

Answer 4

Descriptive Statistics

Question 5

Takes results obtained from a sample, extend them to the population, and measures the reliability of the results.

Answer 5

Inferential Statistics

Question 6

Large amount of data.

Answer 6

Population

Question 7

The set of all possible values of variables where making a census or a complete enumeration of it would be impractical or impossible.

Answer 7

Population

Question 8

Subset of population

Answer 8

Sample

Question 9

Calculated from the samples to make conclusions about the population.

Answer 9

Statistics

Question 10

Opposite of quantitative variables as it describes certain types of information.

Answer 10

Qualitative Variables

Question 11

Examples are: Name, Gender, Address, Religion, Name of School, Subject, and Program.

Answer 11

Qualitative Variables

Question 12

Measures or identifies population or sample based on a numerical scale.

Answer 12

Quantitative Variables

Question 13

Can be analyzed using statistical methods.

Answer 13

Quantitative Variables

Question 14

Variable that can be assume finite, or, at most, countably infinite number of values, usually measured by counting or enumeration.

Answer 14

Discrete Variable

Question 15

Example: Number of children in a family, Number of students in a class, Maximum number of adults that can fit in a car, etc.

Answer 15

Discrete Variable

Question 16

Variable that can assume infinitely many values corresponding to a line interval.

Answer 16

Continuous Variable

Question 17

Example: Time, Temperature, Weight, Height, Speed, etc.

Answer 17

Continuous Variable

Question 18

Scales of Measurement

Answer 18

Levels of Measurement

Question 19

Ways in which variables/quantities are defined or categorized.

Answer 19

Levels of Measurement

Question 20

Numbers serve only as labels or tags for identifying and classifying objects.

Answer 20

Nominal

Question 21

A ranking scale in which numbers (ranks) are assigned to objects to indicate the relative extent to which the objects possess some characteristics.

Answer 21

Ordinal

Question 22

Represents an equal distance between the values in the characteristic being measured.

Answer 22

Interval

Question 23

Possesses all the properties of nominal, ordinal, and interval scale and, in addition, an absolute zero point.

Answer 23

Ratio

Question 24

Process of gathering and measuring information on variables of interest in an established systematic fashion.

Answer 24

Data Collection

Question 25

Information collected by the person who is doing the research.

Answer 25

Primary Data

Question 26

Any material that has been collected from published records.

Answer 26

Secondary Data

Question 27

When a researcher has a direct contact with the interviewee.

Answer 27

Direct Personal Interviews

Question 28

Suitable when there is a need to collect in-depth information on people's opinions, thoughts, experiences, and feelings.

Answer 28

Direct Personal Interviews

Question 29

Advantages of Direct Personal Interviews

Answer 29

In-depth information can be collected. Non-response and Response biased can be detected. Samples can be controlled.

Question 30

Disadvantages of Direct Personal Interviews

Answer 30

More time consuming Expensive Interviewer may be biased

Question 31

Situation where a respondent gives an inaccurate or false answer.

Answer 31

Response Bias

Question 32

Occurs when people are unwilling or unable to respond to a survey due to factors that makes them differ greatly from people who respond.

Answer 32

Non-response Bias

Question 33

Useful when there is a large number of respondents.

Answer 33

Indirect/Questionnaire Method

Question 34

Involves sourcing and accessing existing data that were originally collected for the purpose of the study.

Answer 34

Indirect/Questionnaire Method

Question 35

Key Design Principles of a Good Questionnaire

Answer 35

As short as possible Decide the type of questionnaire Write the questions properly Order the questions properly Write an introduction Write special instructions Translate questions if necessary Pretest the questionnaire

Question 36

Respondents are allowed to answer in an open text format.

Answer 36

Open-ended Questionnaire

Question 37

Advantages of Open-ended Questionnaire

Answer 37

More detailed answers Could reveal additional insights

Question 38

Disadvantages of Open-ended Questionnaire

Answer 38

Difficult to encode, tabulate, and analyze Low response rate Respondent has to be articulate Respondent could feel threatened

Question 39

Respondents are asked to choose from a distinct set of pre-defined responses such as "yes" or "no" among a set of multiple-choice questions.

Answer 39

Closed-ended Questionnaire

Question 40

Advantages of Open-ended Questionnaire

Answer 40

Easy to encode and tabulate Easy to understand Enables inter-study comparisons Saves time and money High response rate

Question 41

Disadvantages of Open-ended Questionnaire

Answer 41

Could frustrate respondents Potentially biased response sets Difficult or impossible to detect if the respondent truly understood the question

Question 42

A group interview of approximately six to twelve people who share similar characteristics or common interests.

Answer 42

Focus Group

Question 43

He guides the group based on a predetermined set of topics.

Answer 43

Facilitator

Question 44

Advantages of Focus Group

Answer 44

Less costly compared to interviews Takes lesser time

Question 45

Disadvantage of Focus Group

Answer 45

Response bias is a problem (participant may be subjective to what people will think about sharing a sincere opinion)

Question 46

A method of collecting data where there is a direct human intervention on the conditions that may affect the values of the variable of interest.

Answer 46

Experiment

Question 47

Usually controlled by the researcher, who determines which subject is used, how they are grouped, and the treatment they receive.

Answer 47

Experiment

Question 48

Advantages of Experiment

Answer 48

Usually objective since the data is the results of the process Non-response bias can be eliminated

Question 49

Disadvantages of Experiment

Answer 49

Incorrect data may be recorded due to human error Expensive

Question 50

Method of collecting data on the phenomenon of interest by recording the observations made about the phenomenon as it actually happens.

Answer 50

Observation

Question 51

Usually systematically planned and subjected to checks and controls.

Answer 51

Observation

Question 52

Advantages of Observation

Answer 52

Data is objective Data is not affected by past or future events

Question 53

Disadvantages of Observation

Answer 53

Limited information Expensive

Question 54

Data that has already been collected and is available from other sources.

Answer 54

Secondary Data

Question 55

Less costly and is easier to obtain than primary data.

Answer 55

Secondary Data

Question 56

Advantages of Secondary Data

Answer 56

Generates new insights from previous analyses of primary data Provides a basis for comparison for he data collected Economical Time-saving

Question 57

Disadvantages of Secondary Data

Answer 57

Accuracy is questionable Not all secondary data is readily available or inexpensive Data may not be appropriate to the needs of the user

Question 58

Sources of Secondary Data

Answer 58

Published report on newspaper and periodicals Financial data reported in annual reports Records maintained by the institution Internal reports of the government

Question 59

It is usually very reliable. Data from these sources are usually more political, economic, and educational.

Answer 59

Published report on newspaper and periodicals

Question 60

An in-depth or comprehensive overview of a business' achievement and key metrics for a specific year.

Answer 60

Annual Reports

Question 61

Mostly used for the company's employees, customer, suppliers, investors, and community at large.

Answer 61

Financial Reports

Question 62

It can be used to evaluate the company's financial health and earnings potential.

Answer 62

Financial data reported in annual reports

Question 63

Created to document anything that is part of an institution.

Answer 63

Institutional Records

Question 64

Information is managed to support the institution's present and future regulatory, legal, environmental, and operational requirements.

Answer 64

Records maintained by the institution

Question 65

These are very important and authentic source of secondary data.

Answer 65

Government Reports

Question 66

These are collected to aid proper planning, allocation of funds, and prioritizing of projects.

Answer 66

Internal reports of the government

Question 67

Consequences from Improperly Collected Data

Answer 67

Inability to answer research questions accurately Inability to repeat and validate the study Distorted findings resulting in wasted resources Misleading other researchers to pursue fruitless avenues of investigation Compromising decisions for public policy Causing harm to human participants and animal subjects